Walmart partnered with The Salvation Army in Niles this week as they gathered donations to stock backpacks with school supplies for the upcoming academic year.
“We want to bless and help as many children as possible,” said Scott Lolmaugh, volunteer coordinator for The Salvation Army.
Lolmaugh received a call from Dr. Lori Glass, optometrist the Walmart Vision Center, who stated that Walmart wanted to donate $250 worth of school supplies to help the children getting ready to go back to school. They will also be offering free eye exams for the children who receive backpacks.
Trinity Episcopal Church, Wesley United Methodist Church, Greater Niles Federal Credit Union and First Baptist Church are some of the organizations who assisted by conducting school supplies donation drives of their own to add to the supplies of The Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army also accepted individual donations. It spent monetary donations on purchasing more school supplies in order to create even more backpacks.
The backpacks will be given to students in grades 1-12 who are or will be attending any Niles, Brandywine or Buchanan school.
Parents or guardians must bring a photo ID and their child’s Social Security card. They must also provide a previous report card or some other form of proof showing where the child is attending school in the fall.
The backpacks will be distributed Aug. 23-25. The deadline to apply is Aug. 19.
For more information, contact Scott Lolmaugh at (269) 684-2660 or Dr. Lisa Glass at (269) 683-2773.